Safety in the Storm

Nitra Plesko experienced the wild side of the spiritual realm that she never knew existed! While spending summer 2008 trekking through Central Asia sharing the love of Christ with nomadic people, she saw just how much the spiritual realm and the elements of nature are connected. There were times in their journey when the team of four could see evidence of the spiritual through the dark clouds and the rain. At one point God even stopped them with hail.

The group was determined to make it out of a valley and over a ridge. It had been raining and hailing all day, and though they were coming up to a ger – a tent-like home to nomads – they resolved to press on. As they neared the ger the hail became worse. They decided to stop. Once at the tent, however, no one was inside. They pushed forward and prayed that the storm would subside. In the distance they noticed another ger situated opposite a raging river – one that was dangerous to cross in current conditions. Suddenly some children came running out of the ger and waved at the team, beckoning them to the other side. One boy even ran down the bank through the river and continued waving at the group, urging them to cross. In that moment the storm pounded harder and harder. With nowhere to go to find refuge, the team had no other choice but to cross the waters. By the grace of God the team safely made their way through the powerful river and into the ger for shelter.

Entering the ger the team was greeted by a tent filled with children. The people of the valley had left their kids with one woman while they attended the local summer festival called Nadam. This woman was trying to look after these children while frantically digging a trench to redirect the rain and hail from swamping her home. The team sent her inside to build a fire while they dug the trenches to divert the water. The weather broke, and they discerned that God brought them across the river for a reason and wanted them stay. Moments later a drunk man burst into the tent, no doubt with the intention of taking advantage of the woman, whom he assumed to be alone. The Lord had protected her, confirming the team’s presence in the ger.

Joudza, the team’s translator, took over for the slightly frazzled babysitter and rounded up the kids for storytime. Joudza has a special gift of working with children and sharing God’s word. She had with her something called an Evangecube – a cube covered with pictures demonstrating the gospel from the creation of the world to the death and resurrection of Jesus. As she spoke the boys and girls listened attentively, captivated by this man called Jesus. That night God called many of those children into a relationship with Himself. Joudza celebrated by teaching the children a Christian song that they could sing to worship God.

The Nomad Team had plans to cross a ridge, but God had even greater plans to use them in valley they were trying to leave. The voice of the Lord resounded, and through the winds and the rains God directed His people to the very place where His will was accomplished and the light of His glory shone brightly.

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky. 
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
Psalm 18:11-13